Roof Fixing Assembly

ABSTRACT

A roof assembly ( 10 ) including a plurality of beams ( 11 ) to which there is fixed mounting brackets ( 12 ). The brackets ( 12 ) attach roof sheeting ( 15 ) that extends generally transverse of the beams ( 11 ). Clips ( 24 ) are provided to aid in fixing the sheets ( 11 ) to the brackets ( 12 ). The clips ( 24 ) inhibit separation of the sheets ( 15 ) thereby increasing the load at which the assembly ( 10 ) will fail.

The present invention relates to roof assemblies that employ a plurality of sheets that are secured to supporting beams, the sheets having overlapping edge portions that engage to inhibit separation of the sheets from the beams by engaging mounting brackets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When subjected to wind loads standing seam roofing systems try to achieve catenaries between adjacent roofs. As the load increases the upward curvature of the catenaries also increases. This inturn increases the ability of the roofing to withstand loading.

A disadvantage of the above described roofing is that the ribs (flanges) resiliently deform so as to move away from the mounting brackets. This can result in the roof sheeting separating from its mountings and/or adjacent sheets separating.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above discussed disadvantage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is disclosed herein a roof assembly including:

a plurality of elongated roof sheets that are arranged with overlapping edge portions that secure adjacent sheets together, each sheet including a longitudinally extending pan located between longitudinally extending flanges, each flange extending upwardly away from the adjacent pan to a longitudinally extending extremity, with adjacent extremities of adjacent sheets providing the overlapping edge portions, and wherein each extremity includes a longitudinally extending hollow section, with engaged overlapping portions including one hollow section being located within the hollow section of the associated overlapping edge portion so as to secure adjacent sheets together;

a plurality of mounting brackets, each mounting bracket projecting inwardly of the hollow sections so as to be captively located with respect thereto; and

a plurality of clips, the clips each encompassing a length of the overlapping edge portions so as to inhibit separation thereof with respect to the mounting brackets.

Preferably, said sheets are formed of metal or metal alloy sheeting.

Preferably, each clip has a longitudinal hollow of a corresponding cross-section to the hollow sections.

Preferably, each mounting flange includes a longitudinally extending head that is captively located within the hollow sections.

Preferably, each clip engages the flanges of this overlapping portion so as to inhibit separation of the flanges at said overlapping portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic isometric view of a roof assembly; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectioned end elevation of the roof assembly of FIG. 1 sectioned along the line 2-2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a roof assembly 10. The roof assembly 10 includes a plurality of beams 11 to which there is fixed mounting brackets 12. The mounting brackets 12 include a web 13 that terminates at its upper extremity with an enlarged head 14.

Fixed to the beams 11 by the brackets 12 are roof sheets 15 that are elongated and extend generally transverse of the beams 11 so as to be generally parallel. However the sheets 15 may longitudinally taper. Each of the sheets 15 include a pan 16, with each pan 16 including longitudinally extending ridges 17. The ridges 17 may project upward or downward.

Each pan 16 is located between upwardly extending flanges 18 and 19. The flanges 18 and 19 provide longitudinally extending edge portions 20 that overlap so as to secure adjacent sheets 15 together and to the brackets 12.

Each flange 18/19 includes a longitudinally extending extremity 21 or 22, with each sheet 15 having one longitudinally extending extremity 21 and another longitudinally extending extremity 22, so that adjacent sheets 15 can be secured together as shown in FIG. 2. More particularly the longitudinally extending extremity 21 is located within the longitudinally extending extremity 22 of the next adjacent sheet.

The extremity 21 is shaped to engage the head 14, while the extremity 22 is shaped to receive the extremity 21. That is, the extremities 21 and 22 provide longitudinally extending hollow sections so that the extremity 21 can be nested within the extremity 22.

Preferably the extremity 22 is circular in transverse cross-section. The extremities 21 and 22 have aligned longitudinally extending slots 23 that enable the web 13 to project inwardly of the extremities 21 and 22, with the head 14 captively located within the extremity 21.

The brackets 12 are engaged into the extremities 21 and 22 by sliding longitudinal relative movement between the brackets 12 and the sheets 15.

A plurality of clips 24 are provided to aid in fixing the sheets 15 to the brackets 12. The clips 24 are located adjacent the brackets 12 and encompass a length of extremities 21 and 22 (that is overlapping edge portions 20) so as to inhibit their deformation and therefore aid in securing the sheets 15 to the brackets 12. If so required, a protective cover strip may overlay the clips 24.

Each clip 24 is arcuate in transverse cross-section and provides clip halves 25 and 26 secured together by means of a “dove-tail” coupling 27. The clip halves 25 may be secured together by a threaded connection or other convenient means. The halves 25 may also be integrally formed as one piece. Each clip 24 has a longitudinally extending slot 28 through which the flanges 18 and 19, and web 13 project.

The clip 24 may be of any convenient length and may extend the full length of the flanges 18 and 19.

An advantage of the above described preferred embodiment is that the clips 24 inhibit separation of the sheets 15, and about the flanges 18 and 19 adjacent the extremities 21 and 22 so as to inhibit separation from the brackets 12, thereby increasing the loading at which the assembly 10 will fail. That is the assembly 10 has a higher wind load rating with the clips 24. 

1. A roof assembly including: a plurality of elongated roof sheets that are arranged with overlapping edge portions that secure adjacent sheets together, each sheet including a longitudinally extending pan located between longitudinally extending flanges, each flange extending upwardly away from the adjacent pan to a longitudinally extending extremity, with adjacent extremities of adjacent sheets providing the overlapping edge portions, and wherein each extremity includes a longitudinally extending hollow section, with engaged overlapping portions including one hollow section being located within the hollow section of the associated overlapping edge portion so as to secure adjacent sheets together; a plurality of mounting brackets, each mounting bracket projecting inwardly of the hollow sections so as to be captively located with respect thereto; and a plurality of clips, the clips each encompassing a length of the overlapping edge portions so as to inhibit separation thereof with respect to the mounting brackets.
 2. The roof assembly of claim 1, wherein the coupling is a “dove-tail” coupling.
 3. The roof assembly of claim 1, wherein said sheets are formed of metal or metal alloy sheeting.
 4. The roof assembly of claim 1, wherein each clip has a longitudinal hollow of a corresponding cross-section to the hollow sections.
 5. The roof assembly of claim 1, wherein each mounting flange includes a longitudinally extending head that is captively located within the hollow sections.
 6. The roof assembly of claim 1, wherein each clip engages the flanges of this overlapping portion so as to inhibit separation of the flanges at said overlapping portions. 